Adding/Subtracting Polynomials
When adding/subtracting polynomials, you need to group similar terms.
For example:
3a³-6a²+ 5a³+12a²= 8a³+6a²
12X² + X² = 13X²
4Y - 5Y= -1Y
17X² + 2X + 8X²+ 5X = 25X²+ 7X
Multiplying/Diving Polynomials:
When multiplying or dividing polynomials you need to use the rules of exponents.
For Example:
3X(X³+ 4X²) = 3X⁴+ 12X³
4Y⁴(Y²+ 6Y)= 4Y⁶+ 2
Foil Method
The foil (Fist, Outer, Inner, Last) method is used to multiplying two binomials
Let's say you need to multiply (X+1)(X-4) then you start with the first term: X(X)= X2
Then the second term: X(-4)= -4X
Then (1)(X)= X
and finally 1(-4)= -4
Now you get the final expression
(X+1)(X-4)= X²- 4X + X -4
Group common terms, in this case (-4X + X= -3X)
= X²- 3X - 4